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Officer: Robber wanted to die

Posted: Wednesday, February 23, 2000

By Linda DeutschAssociated Press

LOS ANGELES -- A detective testified Tuesday that he believes a bank robber wounded in a fierce shootout on the streets of North Hollywood in 1997 deliberately moved around to make himself bleed to death.

James Vojtecky said he whispered to a fellow officer: ''Don't let this man move. He's trying to bleed out on us. He's trying to kill himself.''

Vojtecky testified in a federal civil rights lawsuit that accuses police of letting the wounded gunman, Emil Matasareanu, die by delaying medical help. Matasareanu was shot 29 times in the gun battle.

When asked if he tried to help the bleeding suspect commit suicide, Vojtecky replied: ''That's the last thing I wanted to do.''

During the gun battle, Matasareanu, 30, and Larry Eugene Phillips Jr., 26, wore full body armor and fired automatic weapons. Eleven officers were wounded and a half-dozen civilians were hurt.

Phillips shot himself at the same time a police bullet struck his head. Matasareanu was brought down in firefight with officers.

Attorney Stephen Yagman, representing Matasareanu's children, showed jurors a videotape in which two officers are slaphands in a congratulatory gesture and one kicks the fallen Matasareanu.

''I wasn't anywhere near the suspect or I would have stopped that garbage,'' Vojtecky said.